Display machine



March 26, 1940. l IN ON 2,195,249

DISPLAY MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 "Jon" DOE QD RY cooos 5H oss nn-nnnnnnnunnnunnnuuflnflunnnn ,mm. a

wn-mzssgs INVENTOR WW Job Jfufchinson ATTORNEYS March 26, 1940. -J. HUTCHINSON 2,195,249

' DISPLAY MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES NVENTOR MW 76b Hu'l'ehahsow ATTORNEYS March 1940- J. HUTCHINSON DISPLAY MACHINE,

Original Filed Aug. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm. m w To 6. 4 2' ms 5 W? L W. y .c v 4L #4 H w J 4 M5 m w a 5 93 w z 0 9 8 6 2% 6 4 ,5 7 0 5 E 6 3 5 4 s S u w 7 n a Q w m W 4 f A -U ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 1940 s a (PAireN'rv OFFICE DISPLAY MACHIN Job Hutchinson. Great Neck, N; Y; assignor to Visual Merchandiser, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporationof NewYork Application Au gust 17, 1938, Scrial No. 225,267

Renewed January 22, 1940 j 12 Claims.

This invention relates todis pl'ay signs and particularly to an improved automatically actuated mechanism for successively. bringingto view different signs, an object being to provide sults without requiring the attention of an attendant. v e

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for bringing to view successive sign m sheets through a means which moves theZ-sheets to view in opposite directions and "which continually functions automatically'as long as the power is turned on.

An additional object of the invention is tov provide an automatic display machine, for-bringing the sign sheets to view in succession, wherein means are so formed that the driving meansop erates continuously and yet there'is-a'dwell after each sign has been moved to a display position. Another object is to provide a construction wherein the sign sheets may be readilybrought to view without danger of tearing ithef sheetsso that as the machine operates the same may repeat and present the sign sheetsfin good condlview different sign sheets in succession? and to.

providea balanced structure for the'mechanism whereby there will be no appreciable-momentum' of the sheets as the device functions;

In the accompanying drawings' r Fig. lis a front viewof a displaymachine' disclosing an embodiment of the invention";

Fig. 2 is'a vertical sectional view throughthe machine shown in Fig. 1,the samebeing taken on an enlarged scale and through-Fig.3 approximately on the line 22;

- Fig. 3 is a sectional view through Fig.--2-'ap- 40 proximately on the line 3-3; Fig. 4 is a sectional viewthrough Fig.3 ap- Fig. 5 is an enlarged nag-me ns sectional view through one of the spo ol "ends spool'shafts 'and associated parts;' 7 j f 'Figj6 is a sectional view through Fig-5 approximately on the line 6- 6; v e p Fig.7 is a fragmentaryviewfsimilar to..,part'o f r Fig. 5 and illustrating'how the p rtsv are positioned immediately before the sign-carrying'spool ismoved; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of archer-carrying bar embodying certain features offthe inven tion;

r a simple construction which willsecure' theare- The device is adapted to. be actuated byp'ower (Ol.40--84) i Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the bar at the opposite end of the spool;

I Fig. 10. is a side view of a roller, sign sheet androller rod embodying certain features of the invention; I b

, Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram illustrating the electric circuit and means immediately asso-' ciated therewith;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of a'modified 7 form of spool end to that'shown in Fig. 5; 0 Fig. 13 isan enlarged sectionalview through Fig. 12 approximately on the line l3l3;

Fig. 141is a View partly in section illustrating a modified form of means for producing a dwell after each sign sheet has been moved. 15

' Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, [indicates a casing provided with a window opening 2 which is preferably closed by a transparent member 3'which is usually of glass. The casing i may be madeof wood, metal, or 729 other materiaL-and arranged so that the front, rear, top, bottom and sides are firmly held together, the front and rear being'removably secured in place. The casing is adapted to be supported on a wall orother support at any desired point so that the successive sheets 4 and 5 may be brought to view for displaying the matter thereon. These sign sheets are" adapted to be moved inopposite directions and simultaneously so that when the signsheet 4 movesupwardly it gradually disappears and the sign sheet 5 gradually appears. On the next-motion of the sign sheets a new sheet will move downwardly and take the'place of sheet 4 while'the old sheet 5 will move downwardly and out of sight. As the 5 front and rear'are removable the signs may be removed or changed either from the front or rear as desired. r a I In providing a mechanism to accomplish these results and to present a structure which will function auton'latically. and continuously for eitherlongor short periods of'time, improved 1fnechanism has been provided as illustrated particularly in Figs.'2 to 11 inclusive.

from'electricmotors but, if desired, it could be 5 operated by power from other sources. As shown in Fig. 3, there are'providedelectric motors 6 and I which are connected to a suitable source of current which may be turned on andoff manually as desired. These motors are arranged in positionto operate in opposite directions as indicated by thearrows in Fig. 2. The rotor of motor 6 is connectedto a shaft 8 whilethe rotor of motor 1 is, connected to a shaft 9. These two shafts are connected to a suitable reducing gear l adapted to rotate a pinion II in one direction when one motor is functioning and in the opposite direction when the other motor is functioning. It will be understood that the motors function at difierent times. The reducing gear may be of any desired kind but may be such that when the motor 1 is functioning to drive the parts the rotor of motor 6 will be rotated idly in a reverse direction, and when the motor 6 is functioning the reverse ac tion takes place.

respective chains l and I1. Each of these chains is provided with a lowering hook'or abutment l3 and a raising hook'or abutment ,l 9. The parts are so apportioned that the hooks ill will move intermittently to a position slightly below the lower edge of opening 2 and then the hooks IS will move upwardly to a position slightly above the upper edge of opening 2. This back-andforth motion of these hooks and of the chains which carry the same continues as long as the device is operating. The hooks it, as heretofore fully described, will act on one of the upper sign sheets to move the same downwardly, while the hooks I9 will operate on one of the lower sign sheets to move the same upwardly.

As illustrated'in Fig. i, there is provided a construction which may bev termed a spool 26 at theupper part of the casing I and a second spool 2| at the lower part of the casing- These spools are identical but operate in opposite directions. It is therefore thought that a description of one will be sufficient to serve them-both. For instance, spool is provided with spool ends or disks 22 and 23. Each of these disks is provided with radiating apertures 24. As illustrated in the drawings, there have been provided. twelve of these radiating apertures or slots but itis evident that a greater number or even a less number might be used without departing from'the" spirit of the invention. On one of the disks 2?. there are provided a number of roller-carrying bars 25 and on the other a number of rollercarrying bars 25. These bars are constructed as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.. Bar 25 is provided with apertures 27 for receiving, ball-retaining members 29 and 3!], as shown in Fig. 6, and a third aperture 3| for receiving the small end of a rod 32. The opposite end of rod 32 is provided with squared portions 33 which fit into a notch 34 in the bar Bar 26 is provided with apertures 35 for] 26. receiving spring-pressed balls, as shown in Fig. v6. It will be noted that the disk 22 is provided with an auxiliary disk 35 which may be welded or otherwise secured in place and which is provided with sockets for accommodating the respective springs 31 and 38 which hold the balls 30 in functioning position. It will be understood that I there is provided a pin 32 for each of the notches or slots 24 and each pin is connected with what may be termed a sign roller 39. This rolleris provided with'a coil spring 40 so that the roller, I

As illustrated in Fig. 11 and as hereinafter fully described, means is provided This shaft spring and associated parts will have a tendency to rotate: in one direction, the structure being substantially the same as an ordinary shade rollerwithout the locking pawl. A sign sheet is secured to and wound on each of the'rollers 3Q.

Each of these sign sheets carries a rod 4! at the outer free end. ,This rod normally rests in the notch 42 of bar 25 at one end of the spool and rests in a notch 42' at the other end of the spool. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, each of the sign sheets is provided'with a pair of cutouts 48 for receiving certain actuating members herein fully described and which engage the rod ll inthese cutouts so as to raise or lower the sign sheets as the device functions.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, there is a sign sheet for each-roller 39 and there is provided a roller for each of the slots 34. The rods 41. rest in the notches 42 and 42' of the respective bars 25 and 26 ofthespool 25 until positively moved therefrom by raising and lowering members M. 7 shown in the drawings there have, been provided two members 44 but agreater number may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention; These members are rigidly secured to the slide bar 45 bywelding or other means. Each of these members is provided with an upper hook .46 and ajlower hook 4'! for engaging the respectiverods 4| as hereinafter fully described. The slide bar 45 has an upstanding plate or bar 48 adjacent each end and these plates carry a bar 65 which is parallel to the bar 55. The bar 45 is provided with a number of apertures which may be rectangular or some other shape and whichcoact with apertures 55 in a slide bar 52 slidingly mounted in bar 45. The slide bar 52 has anextension at one end which carries a I friction roller 53, which. roller rollsover the undulating surface 54 of the casing I. A contactual spring 55' (Fig. 4) is connected to the extending end 56. of the slide bar 52 and at 51 to the bar 45 soas to give the slide 52 a tendency to move to the right as shown in Fig. i. As the bar moves upwardly and downwardly the friction roller 53 will cause the slide 52 to move back and forth in conjunctionwith theraction of the spring 55. V

' As there are provided a number of electric lamps 58 (Fig. 2) in the casing I and in front of the reflector 59, light will be projected through the openings 50 and 5| but a blinking action will be produced. This is designed to call attention to the sign as moving lights usually secure this result. This blinking action will take place as the bar 48 moves upwardly and downwardly. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 that the plates or bars 48 are each provided with an aperture and through these apertures the respective guide bars or standards 60 and BI slide. Tubular extensions or sleeves 62 and 63 extend upwardly and downwardly on the respective bars 48 so that the bar or frame 45 may easily slide upwardly and downwardly during the functioning of the device. It will be noted that the bars or plates 48 are each provided with an extension .64 adapt-- ed to be engaged by the respective hooks I 8 and PAS - described the bar 4: carried by the hook 46 .will

closed current is switched off. from one of I the motors and on to the other so that'the'mechanism will immediately begin to'function to move the hook l8 downwardly, while'thereverse is true in regard tothe actuation-"of switch 68, namely, when switch 68 functions hook-l9 willbegin to move upwardly and continue to move upwardly until the extension 69 actuates switch 10;" These switches are only momentarily closed when the circuits of the respective motors are closed for the desired length of time to secure. the proper movement of the parts to causethe various hooks to function asjust described. 3

In order'to balance the chains and associated parts there is provided a weight 1! and a suitable guide 12 on each side of the device. Cables 13 extend upwardly from these weights and have sheet, as for instance sheet 4, downwardlyfas shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the respective hooks 46 extension 65 ofbar 48 will-strike theend of lever will be in engagement with the rod 4| of one of the sign sheets carried. by the spool 20 .while the hook 41 will be engaging the=rod .4I carried by the spool 2 l As illustrated in Fig. 5,- the frame 1 or bar 45'is moved downwardly under the action of hook I8. Theparts will then'move fromthe poi I be a similar dwell or stationary period for the low-' sition shown in .Fig. 5 to that 'shown'in Fig. 7 wherein the rod 4| carried by hook 41 will come to rest in the'notch 42 of ,one of the bars 26.

This bar at this time is'stationary and, conse- J quently, as the member '44 'continues topmove. downwardly hook 41 will move below the bar .26' which has just: received the;rod 4|; -As the parts continue to move downwardly the upper :sign sheet 4 will continue to move downwardly and the Wardly to the dotted positiontshowninFig; 5.

- This lever .is journaled on thershaft'2l'1ofspool 20 and as the lever is moved downwardly .the rear extension 18 will move up'wardly. A pawl 19 is pivotally mounted arse .to'theextension 18. This pawl will engage'in' one of the teeth-M of a ratchet wheel 82 and move the shaft 2 i the spool end 22 and associated 'parts.-as well-asthe spool end 23. It'will be understood that the respective spoolends are pinned or'otherwisesecured to shaft 2! so that both ends will move-at the same time and in the same direction.- A flat been left in the socket42 as shown in Fig. 7,

will move downwardly so that upon the return movement of hook 41 saidhook cannot again engage this particular rod but will engage rod 4! of the next sign sheet, and as the hook and associated parts move upwardlythenext sign sheet will' be brought to view oppositetheopening 2. 'As the next sign sheet is being movedupwardly asjust substitute new ones, i I p Referring'more particularlyto Fig. 11;'it will be movedupwardly under the action of the spring "on'the pawl'carryi'n'g this particular sign "sheet. :It willbe seen,'therefore, that by reason of the coil springs ifl whenever a sign sheet isreleas'ed by 5 'an upward ordownward movement of member 44, the-coil spring .40 associated therewithwill -rewind the sign sheet so'that it will be ready for the next unwinding. *As thehooks i8 and I9 move downwardly a sign sheetfroin the upper 10 spool will be moveddownwardly' and "then a sign sheet from the lower spool will be moved upwardly and the first sign sheet will be rewound and the upper spool turned one notch'so as to bring the second upper sign sheetinto place. This action. 15 is continued until alltwelveof the upper and all twelve of the lower sign sheets have been brought to view; If there should be more than twelve 'sign sheets they will allbe brought to view before the sign sheetswillrepeat. j 20 As illustrated in Fig; 2 when the hook l8moves downwardly tothe lowerend of the opening 2 the frame or bar will remain in its lower pos'ition while theihooks l8 and i9 will move. Hook bar 45 upwardly and all the partsassociated therewith.- During the time the hook i9 is in atz30 certain sense catching upwith the frame or bar 45, there is adwell or stationaryperiod for the upper sign sheet, When the hook 19 moves to itse1 sign sheet Which is exposed throughthe'opening 2. As there are no' complicated parts present the mechanism'will continue to function conftinuously forthe period of' timeidesire'd but it =wi1l beevident thatfthe exposure of. the respec-cmq tive. sign sheets on the respective spools'of the mechanism will repeat the exposures. This -rep-.

' etition is continued as. long as the: machine funcjtions.

At any time an operator may turn off the'current and remove the old sign sheets andiil be seenthat-there are provided apa irof'supply Q lead-in wires 84 and 85, the lead-inwire 85 being divided and connected with one endo'f the re spective magnets 86 and 81. The endila of magne't81 is connectedthrou'gh wire 89 to contact member 99 of switch 10 while the end 9lof magnet 85 is connected. through wire92 to contact member'93. 'I'he're'spective contact ni'embersi lis 94 and95 of the respective switches are connected bywires 96 and 91 'to the lead-in wire 84. This lead-in wire-is connected by wire98 to one side of the respective members 6 and 1 and at the other side throughwires 99 and [00. to the' BO contacts IOI andlilZ, Anarmature lfl3is connected at I04 to wire 85 and is pivotally mounted so that when magnet'Bfi is energized itwill engage contact II, but whenmagnet 81 is energizedit will engage contact I92. By reason of this constructionwhen the switch 68 is closed temporarilymagnet 98 will be magnetized temporarily and'will swing armature I03 to the position shown in Fig. 11 where it remains until the switch 10 is temporarily closed. The temporary closing of switch 10 will temporarily energize magnet 81 intothe circuit'mot'or 1;This will cause a rat-= "versal :of themovementipf theipinion II handas- 'sociatedr partssas heretotore'a. described.

:.As a: modified construction to that; shown in :spool: ends may be provided with'hook extensions 11105 whichvwill idol away with the construction shownnini Figs: Band 9. However, therexis prov vidcdasp'ring me forveach "of :the rollers139 so H ashto receive-the squared end as shown in .Fig. 13. This rectangular orcsquared end fits winto a rectangular or -squared opening 1 08 in the spring so' as to: prevent :the" rotation of the rod 32.

Onewend-of. the spring" 48 is connected with this z rodz and the other end withthe roller 30 so that "when the respectivespins M are released the signsheets Willquicklybe wound on their respeca'tiverollers, as shown in Fig.: 10, but may be readilyipulledtherefrom by ;the actuating member 44.

' 1:1139 inear one end and a similar clutch member H 4 is pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to shaft 1"09 adjacent the other end. The interiorly .ithreaded; and exteriorly geared sleeve II I is providedawith coacting clut ch' members H3 and r H4. If the pinion l i should be rotatedin a cerntaindirection the sleeve Hl'wouldmove down- Wardly, as shown in Fig. l, but'thesprocket Wheels -14 and-I5 would notfunctionuntilthe clutch .member H4 engageslclutchzmember H4, This wi1l-producea dwell-in the movement of the chain and, consequently, a' dwell in the movement, of "theiabar 45and associated parts. p

- Inrthe preferred form of the invention, asshown Jin'Figs; 2 and 3, the chain is continuouslymovai ing-either in one direction or the otherand the 5-udwell,is caused'by the spacing of the hooks l8 and Hi. In the construction shown in Fig. 14 Tithe: dwell iscaused-by the fact that the sprocket -rwheels-arestationaryas-the sleeve H lrmoves from one clutch mem-ber to'the other.

,150 a I claim:

1. A.display exhibitor includinga casing hav- --ing,."a. window, a group of sign-sheets positioned ,in=said.. casing outcof alingment withsaidwindow, l a second group oft-sign sheets :positioned in said :55 casing-out: of alignment with said Window and on .the opposite side -to "the first-mentioned group, I an a independent rotatable rollerfor each sign sheet for both of said groups, a spring for'each of saidrollers-for giving the rollers atendency to rc- 0--tate and wind said signsheets'thereon, a reciprocatingphaingsignsheet shifting means actuated .by said chain forsuccessively engaging andrnov- .iingathe sign sheetsof the respective groups for +unwinding the same-and also forbringing them .to a position in-linewith said window, said means functioning to unwind onesign sheet-of one group while releasing onesign sheet of 'the other group, 'and meansspaced apart alongsaid chain so that .they: Wi11 function at spaced intervals While the m0 chaincontinues to function; said last-mentioned -meanscausing the first-mentioned"-meansato -function' at spaced intervals, wherebytherewill be a dwell inthe movement ofsaid sign sheets,

, said last-lmentioned'means being located-on the l-chain so .that said dwell will occur as any. sign .tashe'et completes its movementiinto apositionin frontcof said window.

i- 2;A displayexhibitor, as set fOI'th'llIl claim 1, "characterized by oppositely "facing hooks secured to said chain for. engaging and moving said sign the la'st'mentioned means will be brought into functioning engagement with the first-mentioned means at spaced: intervals sothat a dwell be-' tween'xthesuccessive movements of said sheets will bepproducedjbfa duration corresponding to "the spacing of the second-mentioned means and the speed'ofi said chains.

hooks secured to said chains at spaced-intervals asxthe meansrforl actuating'saidsign sheet shifting means. i I

' 5. A display exhibitor includinga'casing having" a window a group: of sign sheets positioned in said casing out of: alignment with said window, a'second'group of'sign sheets on the opposite side of said window'positione'd out of alignment with said window, a sign' sheet shifting structure formed with='means for simultaneously engaging the end-portionof one 'signvsheet of each of said groups,-meansa engaging said sign sheet shifting structure for causing the same to move the sign sheetlof one group to a' position opposite said ywindow while releasing the sign sheet of the other group;v a reciprocating-"member, a pair of 'spa'cedgabutmentssecuredtb said reciprocating member positioned'to cause said sign sheet shiftingstructure'tofmove" to one extreme positions .dwell and thentrmove to'the other extreme position and dwell, and-means for causing said reciprocatingmember to function.

6..:In a"disp1ay exhibitor, a spool having end disksQeach'disk being formed witha plurality of 4. Adisplay exhibitor, as set forth in claim 3;

"characterizedrb'y :the use of oppositely facing rod for each of said rollers, said rollers beingrotatably mounted on said rods, one end of each ofwsaid' rods" being flattened with the flattened part extending through a notch in one of said bars; a coil spring for each of said-rollers mounted to surround the rod extending through the roller with one end rigidly secured to the rod and the other end secured to the roller, a sign sheet for each or said rollers (secured at one end to the roller and normally wound on the roller, each of said bars having a notch at the outer end, a rod secured to the free end of each of said sign sheets normally resting in the notch in the bar with which it is; associated, reciprocating means on its outward stroke engaging and moving the rod on one of said'signsheets for displaying the reciprocating means for rotating said spool sufficiently upon" the completion of its return reciprocation to cause the rod of the next adjacent sign sheet on said spool to be in line .to be engaged and moved to a display position.

'7. In a display exhibitor, a spool having end disks, each disk having means presenting a radially protruding hook structure, a plurality of normally wound sign sheets mounted on said spool; means for rewinding each sign sheet when released, each of said sign sheets having at its outer end a rod, said rodsnormally resting on said hook structure,--a reciprocating member for successively engaging said rods and unwinding said sign sheets to expose to view the sign sheets,

,to one end of its travel. 25

8. A display exhibitor having acasing with a window, a rotatable spool in the casing adjacent each end, a plurality of coiled sign sheets carried by each of said spools, means for recoiling v said sign sheets, a pair of spaced reciprocating chains, a pair of spaced abutments carried by each of said chains, a pair-of reversible electric motors for causing said chains to reciprocate, a frame formed with a pair of spaced 'abutments adapted to continuously interlock with the free end of one of the sign sheets of each spool, the abutment on each chain being positioned toengage said frame for causing the same to reciprocate and move one sign sheet to a position to be I 9. A display exhibitor comprising a casing having a window, a spool at each. end of said casing, a plurality of normally coiled sign sheets carried by each of said spools, means for. recoiling said sign sheets after each uncoiling, and means for alternately uncoiling a sign sheet from said spools and moving the same to be exposed through said ing means for alternately engaging the free end' of a-sign sheet on the upper spool and then a sign sheet on the free end of the lower spool,

spaced abutments carried by said chain. for moving-said frame to itshighest point and then to its lowest pointrof travel, the spacing of said abutments and the speed of said chain determin-' ing the dwell ofthe frame at the end of each of its travels, an electric circuit for each of said motors, a switch" for closing said'circuit alternately, and means actuated by said frame for causing said switch to function at each end of the travel of said frame, v,

10. In a displayexhibitona plurality of groups of signsheets, means for alternately moving a sign sheet from said groups to a display position, and means for producing a dwell at the end of the movement of each sign sheet, said means including a pair of sprocket wheels, a shaft con nectingsaid" sprocket wheels, said shaft intermediate its ends having a threaded section, an internally threaded sleeve positioned to travel onv said threaded section, said sleeve having on its exterior surface gear teeth extending. the full length of the sleeve, a reversible gear wheel meshing with said sleeve whereby when said gear wheel is rotating'in one direction said sleeve will move toward onesprocket wheel and when it is rotated in the opposite direction said'sleeve will move toward the other sprocket Wheel, and a clutch member secured to said shaft substantially at each end of said threaded section whereby when said sleeve engages either of said' clutch members said shaft will rotate in the same direction'as said sleeve.

11. Ina display exhibitor, a casing having a window, a group of sign sheets on each side of said window, means for alternately bringing a sign sheet from one group to a position in line with said window and then a sign sheet from the other group, said means including a frame movable back and forth across said window having a number, of openings therein, a shutter carried by said frame for said openings, means carried by said frame; and said casing'for actuating said shutterv whereby said openings will be opened and'closed as the frame moves, and illuminating means arranged in said casing for illuminating said sign sheets aslthey come opposite said window, light from said illuminating meansshining through said openings when said shutter is in produced.

' 12. In a display exhibitor, a casing having awindow, a-group of sign sheets above said winan' open position and by reason of the actuation of said shutter there will'be a blinking action dow, a group of sign sheets below said'window,

means including a frame movable upwardly and downwardly across said window for alternately bringing a sign sheet from the upper group to a position in line with the Window and then a' sign sheet from the lower group, mechanism for actuating said means, said mechanism including a pair of motors functioning in opposite vdirections,-a circuit for each of said motors, a

switch for closing said circuits alternately, said switch including a switch arm formed as an armature, an electromagnet on each side of'said arm, and a separate circuit for each of said electromagnets, each of said separate circuits having a normally open switch, and means carried by said frame for alternately temporarily closing said separate switches, said means functioning as said frame reaches the extreme end of itstravel in either direction whereby one of said motors Will function to raise said frame and the other. motor will function to lower said frame.

- JOB HUTCHINSON." 

